Check-protector.



S. W. ANDERSEN.

7 CHECK PROTECTOR. APPLICATION FILED NOV. 30. 1914.

1,171,828. Patented Feb. 15, 1916.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

5 9 WWWWWIIHIIiIi'EIIIIII W 9 I'm/anion fi idney Mcfindemen y fwdu 1 @umw UNITED STATES PATENT o FIoE.

SIDNEY W. A'NDERSEN, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

CHECK-PROTECTOR.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Feb. 15, 1916.

- Application filed November 30, 1914. Serial No. 874,604.

T 0 all whom itmag concern:

Be it known that I, SIDNEY V. ANDERSEN, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Chicago, in the county ofCook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and of commercial paper the monetary Value thereof, for the purpose of-preventmg fraudulent alteration of the amounts indicated on such paper.

Devices of this character are commercially known as check protectors, and comprise,

in general, a series of changeable dies, indi eating various figures or characters adapted to be impressed into the fiber of the paper, thereby. placing upon the check a permanent indication of its exact or appropriate value, incapable of erasure or being otherwise removed.

The object of my invention is toprovide a construction for check protectors, embodying such a degree of simplicity in -construc-,

tion and operation as to make possible the production of an inexpensive, light, and etlicient device. The novel features of construction employed to attain these ends are hereinafter fully pointed out, more specifically set forth in-the appended claims, and fully illustrated in-the accompanying drawings. in which Figure 1 is a view inside elevation of a form of the-device embodying the features of my invention; Fig. 2 is a top'plan view of the device; Fig. 3 is a sectional view, taken on line 33 of Fig. 1, showing the face of theupper die in elevation; Figs. 4 and 5 are enlarged detail views in elevation of the upper and lower die plates, respectively: Fig. 6 is a view in transverse section. taken on line 66 of Fig. 1, showing the rotative members within the casing in section: Fig. 7 is a view similar to Fig.6, showing the rotative members inelevation; Fig. 8 is a view in section, taken on line 88 of Fig. 6; Fig. 9 is a sectional view, taken on line 99 of Fig. 6; and Fig. 10 is an enlarged detail view, showing the connection employed between the rotative members and the set wheels.

Referring to the drawings, the device comprises, in'general, two jaw members 10 and 11, pivoted at one end and provided at their opposite ends with handles spaced apart and adapted to be grasped by the hand and pressed together to operate the device. Adjacent to the pivoted ends of the jaw memhers, is a casing 12, preferably integral with the upper jaw member 10, and containing the several rotatable dials or wheels and other members of the embossing mechanism.

Immediately below the casing is a slot into which the check is inserted and male and female die plates, .upon the jaw members and on opposite sides of the slot. The die plates are normally retained in spaced relation by means of a flat leaf spring 13 secured to the inner surface of the handle of the upper jaw member 10 and in contact with the inner surface of 'thelower jaw member 11, as shown in Fig. 1, although any other suitable tension means may be used for this purpose.

, portion adjacent to the die plates, the walls gradually tapering rearwardly to form the handle. In the side walls of the lower jaw member, are provided longitudinal slots 14, 14, formed in corresponding positions in said side wall portions of the jaw member and below theupper margins thereof, the upper and lower edges of the slots being preferably provided with outwardly projecting flanges or beads 14 (Fig. 6). Extending transversely between the side walls of the lower jaw member, and substantially in the plane of the lower edges of the slots 14, 14, is the lower die plate supporting wall 15, preferably formed integral with the jaw. The upper portion or side walls of the jaw 11 extend above the slots 14, 14, and embrace the casing 12 and adjacent portions of the upper jaw member, and have pivotal connection therewith, by means of pins 16, 16 extending through the end portions of the walls of the lower jaw member and flanges 17 17 extending forwardly from the casing 12. The upper jaw member is preferablymade in two-parts or sections connected along a central line by means of connected lugs 10 10 formed on the parts adjacent to the ends of the handle and upon the upper portion of the casing 12. The upper jaw member is provided with a transverse wall portion 18 (Fig. 6) parallel with the transverse wall 15 of the lower jaw member and constituting also the bottom wall of the casing 12. Within a recess formed in the surface of said wall portion is retained the upper die plate, hereinafter to be described.

The die plate of the lower jaw member comprises a thin metal plate 19 (Figs. 6 and 9) inserted in a recess formed in the surface of said transverse supporting wall 15, the surfaces of said plate and wall being preferably flush. The lower plate is the female die plate and upon its surface are formed certain characters and areas, cut orgrooved into the surface, as is the practice in forming female dies. The several characters and areas are arranged, as shown in Fig. 4, in the following manner: At one end of the die plate, and extending transversely thereof, are the words Not over, and immediately below these words is the dollar sign it. At the central portion of the plate is :1 rectangular area'20, with point-ed or tapered ends, extending transversely of the die. plate. \Vithin this area, and placed near the righthand end, is the character 0, indicating the zero mark. At the opposite end portion. of the plate, and extending longitudinally of the plate from the transverse area 20 to the edge of the die plate, is provided another area or space 21. Thecharacters and the areas are produced upon the plate by means of a series of parallel cuts or grooves formed in the surface of the plate and spaced closely together to form sharp lines or ridges between the grooves. These grooves preferably extend longitudinally of the plate, and, in the case of the characters indicating the several letters and'figures, each is formed by a plurality of these spaced lines, of various lengths and arranged to produce the proper outline or form of the character.

The male die plate comprises a thin plate 22, mounted within a recess formed in the bottom wall 18 of the casing, and located immediately above and in registering relation with the lower or female die plate 19, before described. As shown in Fig. 5, the male die plate is provided with a similar arrangement of characters as those upon the die plate 19. although in properly reversed position, so that when the plates are brought into contact with each other, the characters will register one with the other. Said die plate 22 is also provided with spaces or areas 23 and 2%, arranged thereon in corresponding relation to the areas 20 and 21, respectively, of the plate 19. A variation is noted. however, in connection with the central transverse area 23 of the male die plate 22, corresponding to the area 20 of the female die plate 19, in that a rectangular aperture 22 replaces a portion of said area extending from the character 0 toward the opposite margin of the plate. The aperture extends through the plate aud wall 18, and communicates with the interior of the casing. The pointed ends and the character 0", however, are present and in proper position to register with the like portions of the area 20 of theplate 19. The purpose of this aperture 22 is to provide an opening through which the dies or embossing characters of the rotative members project, as will hereinafter be clearly brought out. The characters and areas upon the male die plate 22 are formed as opposed to those of the female die plate, by means of a series of closely spaced ridges projecting from the surface of the plate and arranged in parallel relation. In form these ridges partake ofthe nature of sharp knife edges, adapted to cut through and press deeply into the fiber of the paper when the diesare pressed together. l urthermore, the so-called knife edges are spaced apart and so positioned.

relative to the grooved lines upon the female die plate 1.9, that each ridge or knife edge enters a groove of said female die plate.

By the arrangement of the characters and areas upon the femaleand male die plates,

it is apparent that, as the die plates are brought together in registering contact, the

projecting ridges or knife edges of the upper ormale die plate will enter corresponding grooved lines in the corresponding character or areaof the fem-ale die plate 19, and hence, if a sheet of paper, such as a check,

be inserted between the. die plates, the characters and serrated areaswill be produced upon the paper, in the form of a multitude of closely spaced ridges and incisions in the paper where the fiber has been distorted and partially pierced by the sharp ridges or edges.

Referring now to. the rotative members within the casing 12, the same comprise a plurality of rotative wheels, formed and mounted as follows: Extending transversely of the casing 12 (Figs. 6 to 9), is a horizontal shaft 25, preferably non-rotative and mounted at its ends in the side walls of said casing, in a manner hereinafter described. Upon this shaft is rotatably mounted a plurality of wheels or disks adapted to be revolved in a vertical plane transi'erse to the shaft 25. The wheels or disks are arranged in two sets. independently rotatable upon the shaft and each provided with a separate controlling device. Each set consists of three wheels varying in size, and herein designated as type wheels 27, 28, indicating wheels 29, 30, and centering or star wheels 31, 32.

Thetype wheels 27 and 28 are shown as located adjacent to each other in the central part of the casing. and separated by a thin washer 33. These wheels are in alinement with the opening or aperture 2). in the upper die plate 22, and are of such diameter that the lower portions of their peripheries enter said aperture in the plate 22, but do not project outwardly beyond the surface thereof. About the peripheral surfaces of these type wheels are formed a series of numerical characters, arying from 0 to 9. and evenly spaced apart about the surfaces of said wheels.

The numerical characters are formed in the same manne as the characters upon the upper die'plate 22, namely,by means of a series of parallel ridges or knife edges forming the outlines of the characters and projecting from the surface of'the wheel. The path of rotation of the type wheel 28 is adjacent to the fixed character 0 adjacent to the aperture 22, and is adapted to present a figure in the aperture 22 next to and in horizontal alinement with said fixed character 0 upon the die plates, and hence, by means of this particular wheel, the second or middle figure is obtained where such desired number is one of three digits, and likewise constitutes the first figure where the number is of two digits. The type wheel 27 is rotative in a plane beyond that of the type wheel 28 a distance from the permanent character 0, and is adapted to present figures to form the first figure of the desired numeral, when such numeral contains three digits. However, where'the desired numeral contains but two digits, as

in the instance the value of the check is represented by a numeral of two digits. the.

characters upon the type wheel 27 would not be used. and for that reason an additional character'm blank is provided, namely, a triangular shaped figure 3% (Fig. 7), formed of parallel knife edges. as before. The purpose of this additional figure will be seen when the operation of the device is hereinafter more fully described. It is now apparent that the type wheels are designed to provide an interchangeable series of figures; which combined with the character 0 produce the desired combination of digits representing the value of the check or other form of commercial paper, as willbe hereinafter more fully set' forth Adjacent to the outer face of each of the type wheels '27 and 28. are tlie indicating wheels 29 and 30, respectively. one of the indicating wheels. 29. being in contact With its corresponding type wheel 27. whereas the indicating wheel 30 is spaced a short distance from the type wheel 28, by means of a washer or distance member 35. for the purpose hereinafter set forth. -The indicatdiameter than the type wheels, and are proseries of numerical characters corresponding to those of the type wheel with which it rotates or is, connected. namely, the figures ranging from 0" to 9", in the case of the indicating wheel 29. and from 0 to 9" including the blank or triangular shaped character.3l (not shown), in the case of the indicating wheel 30. The figures on the indicating wheels are circumferentially arranged with respect to the figures upon the'type wheels, so that corresponding figures on indicating and type wheels are iii-diametrically opposed positions.

In the top wall of the casing 12 are provided openings 36. 36. immediately above and in the plane of the indicating wheels 29 and 30. These openings constitute. sight openings. through which are exposed to the sight .of the operator the figures upon said indicating wheels. The purpose of the indicating wheels is to enable the operator to determine. with ease and ,despatch. the.

27is diametrically opposite the like digit on its corresponding indicating wheel 29. Thus, by rotating the wheels to a position. such that the figure 3" appears through the sight opening. the proper embossing position of the figure 2 of the type wheel is established. So also. if. the figure "7 is desired to be operated. the wheels would be rotated until the figure 7 of the indicating wheel appeared below the other sight opening. Figs. 2 and 3 illustrate very well the manner in which the inlli -ating wheels determine the positions of the figures 3" and 7 of the type wheels. relative to the opening 22 of the male die plate. and in horizontal alinement ,with the fixed character 0.- The type wheel 28 and its corres mnding indicating wheel 30 are spaced apart to permit the figures of said type wheel to occupy a position between the figures of the type wheel 27 and the permanent character 0. thus forming the middle or second figure of the numeral 370, shown in Fig. 3 as-resulting from the particular setting of the type wheels described. This is made possible by locating the type Wheel 28 -in' the central part of the casing.

responding to that of the other indicating I wheel and directly beneath the sight opening 36.

Each of the sets of wheels is provided of figures or characters upon the type wheel.

to which it is attached. The notches are further arranged and spaced upon the centering wheels, so that each type figure of a type Wheel is located in the same correspondingposition as a notch on its corresponding centering Wheel, or, in other words, each figure of a type wheel is in axial alinement with a notch of a centerlng wheel. These centering wheels operate in conjunction with two vertlcally movable wedge-shaped locking members 39, located in the plane of each of said centering wheels and vertically below said wheels, and comprise wedge-shaped heads 39 (Fig. 8), having inclined upper surfaces of the same inclination or taper as the surfaces of 80 the notches 38 of the centering Wheels, and stems 39 extending vertically downward through openings formed in the lower wall 18 of the casing. The locking members 39 are vertically movable, the heads being nor- 5' mally supported out of contact with the centering wheels, and rest within recesses 40 formed in the walls of the casing and adjacent to the peripheries of said centering Wheels, the bottom'surfaces of said'recesses forming shoulders supporting the head portions of said members. The ends of the stems 39" of the wedge members project beyond the lower surface of the wall 18, and at either side oftthe die plate 22,

the ends of said stems terminating'a short distance from the surface of the female die plate supporting wall 15 of the lower jaw member, when the jaw members are spaced apart, thereby permitting a sheet of paper 59 to be inserted between the die plates and beneath the ends of said stems. When the jaw members are pressed together, in the act of embossing a check, the wedge members are forced upwardly into the path of.

imovement of the centering wheels, and engage the notch thereof immediately above, the tapered surfaces of the heads 39 entering and seating in said notches, thereby locking the type wheel from further rota- 80 tion upon the shaft 25. Its action insures the proper position and alinement of the corresponding figure of the type wheel relative to the area in which the figures are to appear. Thus, if the type wheels are set 55 with the desired type figure slightly off being effected by pressing the set wheels 1,171.,sas

center, so that the figures would not'be in horizontal .alinement, the coaction of the surfaces of the wedge members and the notches serves to rotate the type Wheels slightly, thereby properly centering the figures, to produce a uniform and regular impression upon the paper.

The means for rotating the sets of wheels comprise the following arrangement of members: At the ends of the shaft are mounted two set wheels 41, 11, each comprising a hollow shaft portion =l3 provided at its outer end with a knurled head 42. The shaft portions of the set wheels extend through and have bearing in bosses 44 integral with the casing 12, and also engage the ends of the shaft 25 which project into the hollow shaft portions of said set wheels,

the latter thereby forming. a bearing for the shaft 25. The set wheels are further 86 adapted for endwise movement upon the shaft '25, topermit the connecting and disconnecting of the set wheels with the sets of rotative wheels within. the casing. For this purpose there is provided, adjacent to the90 inner end of each of the set wheels 41, an annular flange or ring 45 integral with the centering wheels 31 and 32, and projecting outwardly therefrom into an annular space formed upon the inner surface of the casing adjacent to the bosses 44:. The end surfaces of the flanges 45, 45 are provided'with a plurality of radial grooves or notches 45*, semi-circular in form and-spaced an equal distance about the said end surfaces. These notches are adapted to beengaged by cylindric shaped lugs or: pins 4.6 projecting radially from the shaft portions of the set ,wheels 43, and located a short distance inwardly from their ends. The pins or lugs 10 46 are adapted to'engage the notches 45 of the flanges 45, 45, and to connect the set wheels with their respective set of rotative wheels within the casing,the connection inwardly. By this construction the operation-of settingthe device is accomplished by first connecting the set wheels with the wheels within the casing and rotati the latter, by means of the knurled hea s 42, to the desired position, at the same time exerting a slight inward pressure upon. the set wheels in 'order to maintain the connection between the members. The members become easily disconnected when the set wheels are released, thus avoiding the accidental rotation of the type and ind.i-' eating wheels from their proper positions.

In the device herein illustrated, the two sets of wheels, each comprising a type wheel, an indicating wheel and a centering wheel, consist of separate members connected together by means of pins 47. 47 extending through and joining together the wheels of each set. It is apparent, however, that each set may be constructed-so that two, or even all, of the wheels may be formed integrally with each other. i I

T o operate the projecting device, the type wheels are rotated in the manner before described, by means of the set wheels 41, 41, to obtain the proper combination of figures to produce a number corresponding to, or indicating an even number of dollars approximating, the face value of the check or similar paper which is to be embossed. By the aid of the indicating wheels and the sight openings in the top wall of the easing, the proper setting of the device is easily and accurately determined' The check or paper is then inserted between the dies, and the jaw members pressed together in the usual manner. Inthe case of an ordinary bank check, the right-hand end margin thereof is preferably inserted between the forward margins of the slot 14 of the lower jaw member, with said margin of the check engaging the inner end of the slot. In this manner, the space of the check, in which is written the figures representing the value of the check, is placed between the areas 21 and 24 (Figs. 4 and 5), adjacent to the outer end margins of the die plates. The contact of these areas of the die plates over the figures on the check produces a rough serrated surface consisting of a plurality of parallel ridges or incisions, which would prevent the erasure or alteration of said figures written thereon and representing the value of the check, without mutilating, the paper and otherwise making the attempt clearly evident. The figures produced upon the paper by the contact of the type wheel figures and the area 20 of the lower die plate 19, are also formed by a series of 1 parallel ridges or incisions, thesame being produced by the passage of the pro ectmg knife edges of the type wheel figures partially through the paper and into the grooves forming the area 20 of the lower or female die plate 19. In this manner, only the outlines of the figures or characters are produced upon the paper. The permanent zero character is embossed upon the paper at each operation of the device, and constitutes always the last digit of the number. The

first two digits, however,'are changeable.

and mav be set to produce a number of two or three digits of which the last digit is alwavs 0. Thus, as shown in the drawings, the figure 370 is obtained by setting the type wheel 27 at 3 and the type wheel 28 at 7. In order to emboss figures of only two digits, as for instance 40, the rectangular shaped character 34 of the type wheel 27 (Fig. 7) replaces the first digit of the figure, and the wheel28 is set to obtain the first figure 4 of the number.

The words Not over and the dollar sign it are embossed uponthe check immeditures of my invention has among its advantages the .use of a fixed ldwer die plate, comprising the fixed character 0 and the uniformly grooved or serrated area 20,'adapted to coact with any'or all of the figures of the type wheels. By reason of this construction, the use of a set of wheels or other changeable female die members, corresponding to the wheels of .the male die plate, is avoided, thus materially decreasing the cost of manufacture, the weight and material used being decreased accordingly. It is possible, therefore, to place upon the market a simple, portable, light and inexpensive device, capable of embossing checks and other papers of value with the same degree of accuracy, and affording the same degree of protection, as the more expensive devices now upon the market. I

The use of a separate indicating wheel with sight openings, for the purpose of setting the type wheels and. the centering devices employed, are features tending to se cure, in a simple and effective manner, the convenient and accurate manipulation of the device.

The device herein shown and described may be modified in its details of construction, without departing from the spirit of my invention, and for that reason I do not wish to be limited except in so far as specifically pointed out in the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. .A device for protecting commercial and like paper, comprising two members pivotally connected together at one end and each plurality of circumferentially spaced embossing characters adapted to cooperate with said serrated surface and produce an impression upon the paper interposed between said members in the movement of one of said members toward the other.

2. A device for protecting commercial and like paper, comprising two members pivotally connected together at one end and each having a handle portion at the opposite end thereof, whereby said members may be grasped and mowed one toward the other, each of said members being provided adjacent its pivoted end with a fixed embossing character, one of said members being additionally provided adjacent its pivoted end with a serrated. or like surface, and a rotatable disk mounted on the other of said members adjacent its pivoted end, said disk being arranged opposite said ser'ated surface and provided with a plurality of circumferentially spaced embossing characters adapted to cooperate with said serrated surface and produce, in connection with said fixed embossing characters, an impression upon the paper interposed between said members in the movement of one of said members toward the other.

3. A device for protecting commercial and like paper, comprising two members pivotally connected together and adapted to be moved one toward the other, each of said members being provided with a fixed em bossing character, one of said members being provided with a serrated or like surface, and the other of said members having mounted thereon a rotatable disk arranged opposite said serrated surface and provided with a plurality of circumferentially spaced embossing characters adapted to cooperate with said serrated surface and produce, in connection with said fixed embossing characters, an impression upon the paper interposed between said members in the movement of one of said members toward the other. and said members being additionally provided with coacting means adapted to serrate a portion of said paper beyond the impression produced by said embossing characters.

' 4. A device for protecting commercial and. like paper, comprising two members pivotally connected together and adapted to be moved one toward the other, each of said members being providedwith a fixed embossing character, one of said members being provided-with a serrated or like surface, and the other of said members having mounted thereon a rotatable disk arranged opposite said serrated surface and provided with a plurality of circumterentially spaced em.- bossing characters adapted to cooperate with said serrated surface and produce, in connection with said fixed embossing characters, an impression upon the paper interposed between said members in the movement of one of said members toward the mounted thereon a rotatable disk arranged; opposite said serrated surface and provided with a plurality of circumferentially spaced embossing characters adapted to cooperate with said serrated surt'ace and produce an impression upon the paper interposed between said members, and an endwise movable locking member slidably mounted on the disk provided member and adapted to be moved by the other member into locking position and hold said disk in its operative position.

6. A device for protecting commercial and like paper, comprising; two members pivotally connected together and each being provided with a handle portion, whereby said members may be grasped and be moved one to aid the other, one of said members being provided with a hollow casing and an aperture opening thereinto, a shaft journaled in said casing, a rotatable disk loosely mounted on said shaft. :1 set wheel loosely mounted on said shaft and connected with said rotatable disk, a turning knob mounted on said shaft, a clutch device for connecting said set wheel with said knob. whereby said knob may efl'ect the turning of said set wheel and said disk, and means for holding said rotatable disk in any of its operative positions, said disk being provided with a plurality ot' circiunferentially spaced embossing characters adapted to be severally positioned in said aperture. and the other of said members being provided with a serrated surface opposite said aperture and adapted to cooperate with said embossing characters to pro-- duce an impression on the paper interposed between said members.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention I aitix my signature in the presence of two witnesses. this 24th day of November, A. D. 1914.

- SIDNEY \V. ANDERSEN.

\Vitnesses CHARLES H. Poona, EUGENE C. \VARN. 

